Best parser games since 2017 - an IFDB Poll

by Rovarsson
RSS Feed

When browsing for good recent games, I'm overwhelmed by the amount of Twine and Choice games. Add to that a great number of games with five stars and only one rating, many of which are also, yes, Twine and Choice games, it gets difficult to find what I'm looking for. (Seriously people, if you really really really want to rate your own game, at least be realistic).

So, recommendations for good parser games since 2017? (They don't have to have 5 or even 4 stars. Just games that you really enjoyed.)

PS: I know, I know... I will play the great Twine and Choice games. All in good time.)

View Comments (2) - Add a comment


The Impossible Bottle, by Linus Åkesson
9 votes
"A 10/10 for me in the IFComp 2020" [+]"A 10/10 for me in the IFComp 2020" --Victor Gijsbers... "Innovative and great fun" [+]"Innovative and great fun" --Ell... "Really unique and mind bending." [+]"Really unique and mind bending." --Kara Goldfinch... "Cute, funny, clever" [+]"Cute, funny, clever: Based around one ingenious idea that is executed very well, with lots of sweet, funny touches" ( - Full review) --Wynter... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Spike... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Denk... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Lance Campbell... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --MathBrush... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --springboard...

Vote for this game

Zozzled, by Steph Cherrywell
9 votes
"IFComp 2019 winner." [+]"IFComp 2019 winner." () --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Spike... (No comment) [+](No comment) --smohler9... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Nomad... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --patrick.brian.mooney... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Lionstooth... (No comment) [+](No comment) --paulseawa... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Kara Goldfinch... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Denk...

Vote for this game

Alias 'The Magpie', by J. J. Guest
8 votes
"IFComp 2018 winner." [+]"IFComp 2018 winner." () --Sobol... "Delicious" [+]"Delicious: Deliciously funny and retro-flavoured. The only 'modern' IF game that I can say, hand on heart, I completely enjoyed from start to finish." --ChrisM... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Spike... (No comment) [+](No comment) --patrick.brian.mooney... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --seguso... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Lance Campbell... (No comment) [+](No comment) --paulseawa... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --MathBrush...

Vote for this game

Eat Me, by Chandler Groover
7 votes
"More on the literary side of things, very good" [+]"More on the literary side of things, very good" () --Victor Gijsbers... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --jakomo... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Christina Nordlander... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Lionstooth... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --MathBrush... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Max Fog...

Vote for this game

The Wizard Sniffer, by Buster Hudson
6 votes
"IFComp 2017 winner." [+]"IFComp 2017 winner." () --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Spike... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --patrick.brian.mooney... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Lance Campbell... (No comment) [+](No comment) --paulseawa... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --MathBrush...

Vote for this game

The Wand, by Arthur DiBianca
4 votes
(No comment) [+](No comment) () --Spike... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Denk... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Lance Campbell...

Rovarsson says: Apparently DiBianca is a must-play. I'll have to get my brain into hardcore puzzle-mode.

Vote for this game

Cragne Manor, by Ryan Veeder, Jenni Polodna, Adam Whybray, Adri, Andrew Plotkin, Andy Holloway, Austin Auclair, Baldur Brückner, Ben Collins-Sussman, Bill Maya, Brian Rushton, Buster Hudson, Caleb Wilson, Carl Muckenhoupt, Chandler Groover, Chris Jones, Christopher Conley, Damon L. Wakes, Daniel Ravipinto, Daniel Stelzer, David Jose, David Petrocco, David Sturgis, Drew Mochak, Edward B, Emily Short, Erica Newman, Feneric, Finn Rosenløv, Gary Butterfield, Gavin Inglis, Greg Frost, Hanon Ondricek, Harkness Munt, Harrison Gerard, Ian Holmes, Ivan Roth, Jack Welch, Jacqueline Ashwell, James Eagle, Jason Dyer, Jason Lautzenheiser, Jason Love, Jeremy Freese, Joey Jones, Joshua Porch, Justin de Vesine, Justin Melvin, Katherine Morayati, Kenneth Pedersen, Lane Puetz, Llew Mason, Lucian Smith, Marco Innocenti, Marius Müller, Mark Britton, Mark Sample, Marshal Tenner Winter, Matt Schneider, Matt Weiner, Matthew Korson, Michael Fessler, Michael Gentry, Michael Hilborn, Michael Lin, Mike Spivey, Molly Ying, Monique Padelis, Naomi Hinchen, Nate Edwards, Petter Sjölund, Q Pheevr, Rachel Spitler, Reed Lockwood, Reina Adair, Riff Conner, Roberto Colnaghi, Rowan Lipkovits, Sam Kabo Ashwell, Scott Hammack, Sean M. Shore, Shin, Wade Clarke, Zach Hodgens, Zack Johnson
4 votes
(No comment) [+](No comment) --Spike... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --MathBrush... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Nomad... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Zape...

Vote for this game

Ryan Veeder's Authentic Fly Fishing, by Ryan Veeder
4 votes
"Highly original" [+]"Highly original" () --Denk... "Brilliantly established setting" [+]"Brilliantly established setting" --Victor Gijsbers... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Lionstooth... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --IFforL2...

Vote for this game

Junior Arithmancer, by Mike Spivey
4 votes
"If you like mathematical puzzles." [+]"If you like mathematical puzzles." () --Sobol... "Great math fun" [+]"Great math fun" ( - Full review) --Victor Gijsbers... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Denk... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Lance Campbell...

Vote for this game

The Temple of Shorgil, by Arthur DiBianca
4 votes
"Austere puzzle design" [+]"Austere puzzle design" ( - Full review) --Victor Gijsbers... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Spike... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Denk...

Vote for this game

Illuminismo Iniziato, by Michael J. Coyne
3 votes
(No comment) [+](No comment) () --Spike... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Denk... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Zape...

Rovarsson says: Amazing game! I just wish I could have gotten on the pterosaur's back...

Vote for this game

Absence of Law, by mathbrush
3 votes
(No comment) [+](No comment) () --Spike... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Kinetic Mouse Car... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Max Fog...

Vote for this game

Founder's Mercy, by Thomas Insel
3 votes
"Great sci-fi game" [+]"Great sci-fi game" ( - Full review) --Denk... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Edo... (No comment) [+](No comment) --patrick.brian.mooney...

Vote for this game

A Beauty Cold and Austere, by Mike Spivey
3 votes
"Excellent math puzzlefest" [+]"Excellent math puzzlefest" () --Denk... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Lance Campbell... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --MathBrush...

Rovarsson says: Yes! I have started playing this twice and gave up for lack of time to invest. Thanks for reminding me. [Edit: Finished it, loved it, reviewed it.]

Vote for this game

Never Gives Up Her Dead, by Mathbrush
2 votes
(No comment) [+](No comment) () --Zape... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Max Fog...

Vote for this game

Skybreak!, by William Dooling
2 votes
(No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Spike... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Kinetic Mouse Car...

Vote for this game

The Lurking Horror II: The Lurkening, by Ryan Veeder
2 votes
(No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Denk...

Vote for this game

Sugarlawn, by Mike Spivey
2 votes
"Multi-layered optimisation puzzle" [+]"Multi-layered optimisation puzzle" () --Victor Gijsbers... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Edo...

Vote for this game

The Magpie Takes the Train, by Mathbrush
2 votes
(No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Denk... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Lance Campbell...

Vote for this game

The Weight of a Soul, by Chin Kee Yong
2 votes
"Reminds me of Anchorhead but with (for me) easier puzzles. Fantastic" [+]"Reminds me of Anchorhead but with (for me) easier puzzles. Fantastic" () --Kara Goldfinch... (No comment) [+](No comment) --mediocre.marsupial...

Vote for this game

Future Threads, by Xavid
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) () --patrick.brian.mooney...

Vote for this game

The Owl Consults, by Thomas Mack, Nick Mathewson, and Cidney Hamilton
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) () --Spike...

Rovarsson says: Will definitely play this. Thanks.

Vote for this game

Dr Ludwig and the Devil, by SV Linwood
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) () --Zape...

Vote for this game

Tristam Island, by Hugo Labrande
1 vote
"Commercial" [+]"Commercial" ( - Full review) --Denk...

Vote for this game

According to Cain, by Jim Nelson
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Denk...

Vote for this game

Basilica de Sangre, by Bitter Karella
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) () --Denk...

Vote for this game

Dawn of The Soviet Ladybirds, by Christopher Merriner
1 vote
"Good with graphics" [+]"Good with graphics" () --Denk...

Vote for this game

Swigian, by Mathbrush (as Rainbus North)
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) () --jakomo...

Vote for this game

Stuff of Legend, by Lance Campbell
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Denk...

Vote for this game

Captain Cutter's Treasure, by Garry Francis
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) () --Denk...

Vote for this game

Return to Castle Coris, by Larry Horsfield
1 vote
"Better than the last episode. " [+]"Better than the last episode. " () --Denk...

Vote for this game

Alone, by Paul Michael Winters
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Denk...

Vote for this game

Wry, by Olaf Nowacki
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Denk...

Vote for this game

A Rope of Chalk, by Ryan Veeder
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sobol...

Rovarsson says: I haven't played anything by Ryan Veeder yet. Looks like it's time to start.

Vote for this game

The Beast of Torrack Moor - 30th Anniversary Edition, by Linda Doughty and Chris Ainsley and Andy Green
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) --ChrisM...

Vote for this game

The Prongleman Job, by Arthur DiBianca
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Denk...

Vote for this game

Over Here!, by auraes
1 vote
"Great two-word parser and graphics" [+]"Great two-word parser and graphics" ( - Full review) --Denk...

Vote for this game

Advent Door, by Andrew Plotkin
1 vote
"A short parser game with a very interesting concept." [+]"A short parser game with a very interesting concept." () --Sobol...

Vote for this game

Best Gopher Ever, by Arthur DiBianca
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) () --Denk...

Vote for this game

Captivity, by Jim Aikin
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) ( - Full review) --Denk...

Vote for this game

Santa Carcossa Nights, by Bitter Karella
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) --Denk...

Vote for this game

How Prince Quisborne the Feckless Shook His Title, by John Ziegler
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) --Zape...

Vote for this game

Trick or Treat, by David Whyld
1 vote
"Nice comedy" [+]"Nice comedy" ( - Full review) --Denk...

Vote for this game

Xanix - Xixon Resurgence, by Larry Horsfield
1 vote
(No comment) [+](No comment) () --Denk...

Vote for this game

Is there another game that you think should be on this list? Just fill in the title of a game you'd like to vote for.
Game Title (or TUID or IFID):

Poll created on November 9, 2020